Thursday, February 2, 2012

Roma (Levia Gravia)

Roma

Date al vento le chiome, isfavillanti
Gli occhi glauchi, del sen nuda il candore,
Salti su ’l cocchio; e l’impeto e il terrore
Van con fremito anelo a te d’avanti.

L’ombra del tuo cimier l’aure tremanti,
Come di ferrugigno astro il bagliore,
Trasvola; e de le tue ruote al fragore
Segue la polve de gl’imperi infranti.

Tale, Roma, vedean le genti dome
La imagin tua ne’ lor terrori antichi:
Oggi una mitra a le regali chiome,

Oggi un rosario che la man t’implichi
Darti vorrien per sempre. Oh ancor del nome
Spauri il mondo e i secoli affatichi!

Rome

Once with thy locks upon the wind outspread,
Breast bare, and sea-blue eyes afire for war,
Thou didst the chariot urge; – before thee far
Panic and fear with panting breath had fled:

The shadows of the helm upon thine head,
Like the fierce dazzle of an iron star,
Outran the winds; behind thy swift-wheeled car
Hovered the dust of trampled empires dead.

Great Rome! the nations vanquished by thy fame
Saw thus thine image in their ancient fears:
To-day thy regal locks a mitre’s shame

Dishonours; in thy hand bedewed with tears
The beads of prayer ! - O once more with thy name
Affright the world and free the wearied years!



from Levia Gravia, ii. 28. -  Giosuè Carducci


Giosuè Carducci (1835-1907) was an Italian Neoclassical poet, who in 1906, became the first Italian writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature.